How should I choose my healthcare policy?

Thinking of searching online? Think again!

With more and more of our daily activities moving online, you'd be forgiven for thinking that you should use comparison sites. It really isn't that simple.

Comparison sites make general assumptions which are rarely true for the individual.

Looking online will give you a very basic idea of price- it can't asses your medical history and speak to the underwriters regarding cover, for example. Healthcare is the most complicated of all the insurances - there are experts who make it their life's work to understand their clients needs and know policy options inside out - even better, some do this for free, getting paid directly by an insurer for placing the business their way.

Impartial Advisers?

It can be very tricky finding an expert who is not incentivised more strongly by one insurer than another. Some brokers will do 'deals' with one insurer on the understanding that they only offer a restricted panel - sometimes only three. Then there are companies who are actually owned by an insurer (they don't advertise this fact) so you might think you're getting an impartial review, but end up with a one-size-fits-all product. Finally, some brokers or intermediaries charge for their service.

Compare Your Healthcare has one of the largest panels in the industry, they are a free service that offer impartial reviews. www.cyhc.co.uk